Water Proof Firearm Case

ABSTRACT

A waterproof case comprises a pair of flexible waterproof elongated sidewalls extending from a first end and tapering toward a second end. The firearm case includes a waterproof seal about it&#39;s peripherally and includes a waterproof closure extending across the sidewall. The firearm case also includes a carrying handle along a reinforced top edge, a shoulder strap connected to the top edge at one end and to a reinforcing strap that extends along the sidewall at a second end. Also disclosed is a waterproof bag having a one piece angular sidewall that is rolled to form a tube and sealed along a seam. The bag also includes a pair of circular end walls sealed to the sidewall and a waterproof zipper that is sealed to the sidewall. The overall structure seals out moisture to prevent the contents within the bag from getting wet. The bag also includes a carrying strap that is secured to a pair of sealing strips that are then in turn sealed to the sidewall. The closure used for both the firearm case and bag is a waterproof slide fastener that is heat sealed about its perimeter to the sidewall of the bag.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to storage containers and bags for use instoring and transporting items. More particularly, the presentdisclosure relates to firearm cases and duffle bags that allow forprotective storage and transportation of such items. Generally, firearmcases and duffle bags are designed to provide a user with a place tostore firearms and equipment which can be used to transport such itemsfrom one location to another. Firearm cases are, generally, hard or softsided structures that are used to store and transport firearms from ausers home to a hunting site. Firearm cases are usually cumbersome andare not transported easily from one place firearm cases do notadequately protect the firearms and other devices from moistureresulting in corrosion and damage to the firearm and equipment.

SUMMARY

According to the present disclosure, a waterproof firearm case comprisesa pair of flexible waterproof elongated sidewalls extending from a firstend and tapering toward a second end. The firearm case includes awaterproof seal about its peripherally and includes a waterproof closureextending across one of the sidewalls. The firearm case also includes acarrying handle along a reinforced top rib. The firearm case furtherincludes a shoulder strap connected to the top edge at one end and to areinforcing strap that extends along the sidewall at a second end.

The present disclosure also comprises a waterproof duffle bag having aone piece tubular sidewall that is rolled to form a tube and sealedalong a single seam. The bag also includes a pair of circular end wallssealed at their perimeter to the sidewall and a waterproof zipper thatis sealed to the sidewall. The overall structure seals out moisture toprevent the contents within the bag from getting wet. The bag alsoincludes a carrying strap that is secured to a pair of sealing stripsthat are then in turn sealed to the sidewall. The closure used for boththe firearm case and bag is a waterproof slide fastener that is heatsealed by RF Welding about its perimeter to the sidewall of the bag.

Additional features of the present disclosure will become apparent tothose skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detaileddescription of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode ofcarrying out the disclosure as presently perceived.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figuresin which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a waterproof firearm case, in accordancewith the present disclosure, having a pair of flexible waterproofelongated side walls extending from a first end and tapering toward asecond end, the firearm case having a waterproof seal about itsperiphery and including a waterproof closure extending across the sidewall, the firearm case also including a carrying handle along areinforced top edge and a shoulder strap connected to the top edge andto a reinforcement strap that extends along the side wall;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1illustrating the multiple layers of the firearm case including theflexible waterproof outer layers, the liner covers and padding;

FIG. 3 is a close-up perspective view of the waterproof zipper that isadhered to the flexible waterproof exterior layer, the zipper includes apair of interconnecting zipper teeth and flexible sealing members that,when interconnected, create a waterproof seal along the length of thezipper, the zipper also including, at the opened end, an end zone thatseals against the zipper pull to prevent leakage;

FIG. 4 is another perspective view of the zipper, similar to FIG. 3showing the zipper pull in a closed position wherein the zipper pull isin contact with the end zone;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the firearmcase.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 6-6 of FIG. 5illustrating the multiple layers of the firearm case.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the waterproof bag having a one pieceannular side wall that is rolled to form a tube and sealed along asingle seam, the bag also including a pair of circular end walls sealedto the side wall, a waterproof zipper that sealed to the side wall and acarrying strap that is secured to a pair of sealing strips that are inturn sealed to the sidewall; and

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken about lines 8-8 of FIG. 7illustrating the interconnection of the waterproof zipper and sealingstrip to the annular sidewall of the waterproof bag;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A firearm case 10 for use in storing and transporting a firearm isshown, for example, in FIG. 1. A firearm case 10 is configured to offera secured storage space for a firearm and includes padding 12 to preventdamage to the firearm. The firearm case 10 includes first and secondelongated sidewalls 14, 16 that form the sides of the firearm case 10.First and second sidewalls 14, 16 are formed from a waterproof wovenfabric having a first woven layer 18 formed of a nylon or other wovenmaterial and a polyurethane layer 20 coupled to the woven layer 18. Thefirst and second sidewalls are formed from a woven fabric having apolyurethane or vinyl layer bonded to one side. The polyurethane layer20 is applied to the woven layer 18 by use of an extrusion process.Woven layer 18 can be a solid color have a camouflage pattern. First andsecond sidewalls 14, 16 are heat sealed by RF Welding together aroundthe perimeter 22 after the side walls 14, 16 are sealed around theirperimeter. Cover ribbing 24 is secured along perimeter 22 by heatsealing by RF Welding or stitching. If stitching is used, it is appliedso that does not penetrate internal cavity 26 of firearm case 10. Heatsealing by RF Welding first sidewall 14 to second firewall 16 creates awaterproof seal around perimeter 22 of firearm case 10 and createsinternal cavity 26 which houses the pad 12 and the firearm.

Firearm case 10 also includes a grip rib 28 located along an upper edgeof sidewalls 14, 16. Grip rib 28 is adapted to permit a user to grab thefirearm case 10 and also permits the attachment of handle 30. Handle 30is attached to grip rib 28 by use of stitching, rivets or otherfastening means known to those skilled in the art. Grip rib 28 alsoincludes loop 32 that is use in combination with ring 34 located onsecuring strip 36 to permit use of shoulder strap 38. Should strap 38includes a pair of clips 40 to allow shoulder strap 38 to bedisconnected from firearm case 10. In order to provide additionaldurability to firearm case 10, forward end 42 and rearward end 44include reinforcement patches 46, 48, which protect first and secondsidewalls 14, 16.

Firearm case 10 also includes opening 50 that is secured by a waterproofslide fastener 52. Opening 50 is arranged across a portion of the firstsidewall 14 to permit the ingress and egress of a firearm. Slidefastener 52 is completely waterproof, having a pair of sealing members54, 56 that seal opening 50 when zipper pull 58 is moved to a closedposition. As can be seen in FIG. 2, firearm case 10 includes internalcavity 26 which houses padding 12 to secure a firearm. Padding 12includes upper layers 58, 60 and lower layer 62. Upper and lower layers58, 60, 62 are surrounded by a fibrous material 64 to protect the metalsurfaces of the firearm. The firearm is designed to be positionedbetween upper layers 58, 60 and lower layer 62 so that padding 12surrounds the firearm. In order to allow the firearm to be placed withinthe layers 58, 60, 62 and opening 66 is provided between upper layer 58and upper layer 60. To assist and maintaining the orientation of upperlayers 58, 60 a fastener material 68 is placed between upper layers 58,60 and first sidewall 14, as shown, for example, in FIG. 2. When slidefastener 52 is in the closed position, firearm case 10 is completelywaterproof and substantially air tight.

Slide fastener 52 is secured to first sidewall 14 by heat sealing or RFwelding, as shown, for example, in FIG. 3. Slide fastener 52 alsoincludes gripper elements 70 that secure sealing member 54 to sealingmember 56. Slide fastener 52 also includes a base layer 72 that ismolded as part of slide fastener 52. Base layer 72 includes uppersurface 74 that is heat sealed by RF welding to first sidewall 14. Slidefastener also comprises end member 76 that includes a sealing lip 78that is adapted to accept and completely seal slide 59 when slide 59 ispositioned within end member 76, as shown, for example, in FIG. 4.

The firearm case 10 may also include an elongated upper region 80 thatis designed to accommodate an optical scope from a firearm, as shown,for example in FIG. 5. Grip rib 28, as shown in FIG. 5, may also includesupport rings 34, 35 to secure shoulder strap 38. Slide fastener 52,shown in FIG. 5 is attached to first side wall 14 by a slightlydifferent arrangement. As shown in FIG. 6 base layer 72 of the slidefastener 52 is heat sealed by RF welding waterproof membrane 82 thatsurrounds slide fastener 52. Waterproof membrane 82 is in turn heatsealed by RF welding the membrane about its perimeter to first side wall14 of firearm case 10. This allows for a more flexible opening to allowfor ingress or egress of the firearm.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a bag 84 that includes a one piece tubular sidewall 86, which is sealed upon itself along seam 88 to form side wall 86.Side wall 86 is formed from a waterproof polyurethane based materialthat is flexible but waterproof. To form seam 88 side wall 86 isoverlapped over itself and RF welded to create a waterproof seal.Waterproof bag 84 also includes a pair of end walls 90, 92 that aregenerally circular in shape and each include a perimeter 92 that is RFwelded to ends 96, 98 of side wall 86 to create a waterproof sealbetween end walls 90, 92 and side wall 86. Side wall 86 includes anopening 100 that is adapted to accept slide fastener 102. Slide fastener102 includes a base layer 104 that is heat sealed by RF Welding to sidewall 86 around the perimeter of opening 100. All of the joints of thebag 84 are RF welded to create a waterproof connection betweencomponents with the bag 84 fully assembled and slide fastener 102 in aclosed position. Bag 84 is not only waterproof, but substantially airtight to keep contents within bag 84 dry. The bag 84 also includes apair of handles that are connected to a nylon webbing strap 110. Nylonstrap 110 is secured to securing strips 112, 114 which are in turn heatsealed by RF Welding to side wall 86 of bag 84. This arrangementprevents stitching used to secure strap 110 from puncturing side wall 86of bag 84, which maintains the waterproof integrity of the bag 84.

In use, slide 59 of slide fastener 52 is slid to expose opening 50 infirearm case 10. With slide fastener 52 in the open position, a firearmcan be placed between upper and lower layers 58, 60, 62 of padding 12.Once the firearm is in the proper position slide 59 of slide fastener 52is moved to a closed position so that the firearm case 10 is completelywaterproof and substantially air tight. If during hunting, it starts torain or the firearm case 10 is accidentally placed in water, the waterwill not come into contact with the firearm preventing corrosion. Whenuse of the firearm is desired, slide 59 of slide fastener 52 is moved toan open position to expose opening 50 to allow the firearm to be removedfrom padding 12.

While embodiments have been illustrated and described in the drawingsand foregoing description, such illustrations and descriptions areconsidered to be exemplary and not restrictive in character, it beingunderstood that only illustrative embodiments have been shown anddescribed and that all changes and modifications that come with in thespirit of the invention are desired to be protected. The applicants haveprovided a description and figures which are intended as illustrationsof embodiments of the disclosure, and are not intended to be construedas containing or implying limitation of the disclosure to thoseembodiments. There are a plurality of advantages of the presentdisclosure arising from various features set forth in the description.It will be noted that alternative embodiments of the disclosure may notinclude all of the features described yet still benefit from at leastsome of the advantages of the such features. Those of ordinary skill inthe art may readily devise their own implementations of the disclosureand associated methods without undue experimentation, that incorporateone or more of the features of the disclosure and fall within the spiritand scope of the present disclosure and the appended claims.

1. A waterproof firearm case for protecting a firearm, the firearm casecomprising: first and second sides formed from a flexible waterprooffabric material, said sides being sealed together about their perimeterto form a waterproof seal between said first and second sides and toform an internal cavity; an opening formed in and extending across aportion of one of said sides; a waterproof slide fastener sealed to saidopening, said waterproof slide fastener adapted to permit the ingressand egress of the firearm when in an opening position and creating awaterproof seal when in a closed position so that when said slidefastener is in a closed position, water cannot enter the firearm case;and a resilient pad positioned within the cavity and having a firstsection and a second section, said firearm adapted to be positionedbetween said sections to isolate the firearm from the sides so that saidpad can absorb impacts to the firearm case to reduce the likelihood ofdamage to the firearm.
 2. The waterproof firearm case of claim 1,wherein said first and second sides are connected about their perimeterby RF-welding.
 3. The waterproof firearm case of claim 1, wherein saidfirst and second sides are formed from a woven fabric having apolyurethane or vinyl layer bonded to one side.
 4. The waterprooffirearm case of claim 1, further including a grip rib coupled to anupper end of said first and second sides and a handle attached to saidgrip rib.
 5. The waterproof firearm case of claim 1, wherein said slidefastener includes a pair of sealing members that contact one anotherwhen said slide fastener is in a closed position to create a waterproofseal.
 6. The waterproof firearm case of claim 4, wherein said grip ribincludes at least one ring to permit the attachment of a shoulder strap.7. The waterproof firearm case of claim 1, further includingreinforcement patches to prevent wear to said first and second sides. 8.The waterproof firearm case of claim 1, wherein said slide fastenerincludes a base layer that is sealed to the perimeter of said opening.9. The waterproof firearm case of claim 8, wherein said base layer is RFwelded to said perimeter of said opening.
 10. A waterproof firearm casefor protecting a firearm from moisture and damage, the firearm casecomprising: a first side of flexible waterproof material having aperimeter; a second side of flexible waterproof material having aperimeter wherein the perimeter of said first layer is sealed to saidsecond layer to form an internal cavity between said layers; an openingformed in one of said layers, said opening oriented to extend across aportion of one of said sides; a waterproof slide fastener having a baselayer that is sealed to a perimeter of said opening, said slide fasteneradapted to permit the ingress and egress of a firearm from said firearmcase; a foam liner positioned within said cavity, said foam liner havinga space adapted to accept the firearm; and wherein said firearm case iscompletely waterproof when said slide fastener is in a closed position.11. The waterproof firearm case of claim 10, wherein said firearm caseincludes cover ribbing secured to said perimeter of said sides.
 12. Thewaterproof firearm case of claim 10, wherein in said sides are RF-weldedabout the perimeter.
 13. The waterproof firearm case of claim 10,wherein said first and second sides are formed from a woven fabrichaving a polyurethane layer extruded to one side.
 14. The waterprooffirearm case of claim 10, further including a grip rib coupled to anupper end of said first and second sides and a handle attached to saidgrip rib.
 15. The waterproof firearm case of claim 10, wherein saidslide fastener includes a pair of sealing members that contact oneanother when said slide fastener is in a closed position to form awaterproof seal.
 16. The waterproof firearm case of claim 14, whereinsaid grip rib includes at least one ring to permit the attachment of ashoulder strap.
 17. The waterproof firearm case of claim 10, furtherincluding reinforcement patches to prevent wear to said first and secondsides.
 18. A waterproof bag for storing and transporting itemscomprising: a one-piece tubular side wall formed from a flexiblewaterproof material, said sidewall having a first end sealed to a secondend along a seam; a first end wall formed from a flexible waterproofmaterial having a perimeter that is sealed to a first side of saidtubular side wall; a second end formed from a flexible waterproofmaterial having a perimeter that is sealed to a second side of saidtubular side wall; an opening formed in said side wall; a waterproofslide fastener sealed to the perimeter of said opening, said slidefastener adapted to permit the ingress and egress of items from saidbag; and a carrying strap secured along a portion of its length to atleast one securing strip, said securing strip sealed to said side wall.19. The waterproof bag of claim 18, wherein said seam of said side walland the perimeters of said end walls are RF-welded.
 20. The waterproofbag of claim 18, wherein said slide fastener includes a pair of sealingmembers that contact one another when said slide fastener is in a closedposition to form a waterproof seal.
 21. The waterproof bag of claim 18,wherein said carrying strap is made from nylon webbing.
 22. Thewaterproof bag of claim 18, wherein said carrying strap is secured alonga portion of its length to a second securing strip, said second securingstrip is sealed to said side wall.